KYIV, July 15 – Iraq’s ambassador to Ukraine on Monday vehemently denied reports that his country had bought Ukrainian weapons in violation of U.N. sanctions, but underscored his government’s interest in Ukrainian military technology. The reports are “within the aggressive campaign of the U.S. against Iraq, 100 percent,” said Hisham A. Ibrahim, Iraq’s Ambassador to Ukraine.
Allegations of Ukraine-Iraq arms deals have swirled for months and re-emerged last week when the Financial Times implied that Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and his aides participated in weapons deals in violation of U.N. sanctions against Iraq. Kuchma and other officials have repeatedly denied the accusations. But Ukraine’s government has taken steps recently to tighten control over military technology exports, and the Ukrainian parliament appointed a committee last week to investigate the allegations. While denying any sanctions violations, Ibrahim repeatedly declared his government’s “powerful interest” in deepening ties with Ukraine that predate its 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. “We need Ukrainian technology as much as Ukraine needs Iraqi oil,” said Ibrahim. “If it were possible, we would cooperate with Ukraine in military spheres, but for us, the embargo prevents it.” A high-level Ukraine-Iraq commission has worked for two years to boost Iraq’s trade with Ukraine, which now totals dlrs 300 million. While U.N. and U.S. weapons inspectors are forbidden from Iraq, Ibrahim said Ukraine has an open invitation from Iraq to investigate the claims of illegal arms deals. “Though Ukraine is now taking the stand with the U.S. against Iraq, we have extended the invitation to Ukraine side to send a team to investigate,” said Ibrahim. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry was not available to verify the invitation.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, during a visit to Ukraine on Friday, expressed concern about the allegations of arms transfers, and urged Kuchma to speed up investigation of the claims.
Ibrahim also said Iraq has invited Britain to send inspectors to investigate its weapons capabilities. “We welcome any neutral team,” he said.
The British Embassy in Kyiv denied that London had received any such bilateral offer recently. Iraq extended such an invitation to British inspectors in March after Prime Minister Tony Blair claimed to have evidence that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
